VCU vs Wichita State 2012 NCAA Bracket Predictions

by Reno Gold on Thursday, March 15th, 2012

Virginia Commonwealth vs Wichita State 2012 NCAA Bracket Predictions: Wichita State (27-5) is the fifth-seed in the South Region of the 2012 Men’s NCAA Tournament and will play 12th-seeded Virginia Commonwealth University (28-6) in the second-round at Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon. Tip-off for the game is set for 7:15 p.m. ET and will be televised on CBS.

Odds makers at online sports book SBGglobal.com list the Shockers as 7-chalk favorites versus VCU with a combined score (over/under) total of 137 1/2. Rams backers wagering for a SU upset victory over WSU are getting +260 College Basketball Odds on the off shore money line while the price of a SU wager on the Shockers is -320.

Since Head Coach Shaka Smart and his staff took over the reins of the VCU program in 2009, the Rams have posted an 83-27 record, the eighth-most wins in the country over that span. Smart and his staff are 17-3 in postseason tournaments, including a perfect 3-0 in this year’s CAA Tournament, which gave VCU its fifth CAA Championship.

Wichita State was the MVC Regular Season Champions, boasting a 27-5 record. However, the Shockers were upset in semifinals of the MVC Tournament, falling 65-64 against Illinois State on Saturday. Wichita State, ranked No. 14 in the ESPN/USA Today poll and No. 15 in the AP poll, have won 17 of its last 19 games.

It’s the opinion of many, including myself that the CAA and MVC are practically mirror images of each other and are the best of the so-called Mid-Major leagues along with the WCC home of Gonzaga and St. Mary’s. The champions of either of these three conferences would contend in any of the traditional power conferences. Wichita State has been the best of any mid-major program all season until stumbling early in the MVC tournament to Illinois State. The Shockers are my favorite to win this game SU but I like VCU to cover +7.

No more bubble talk and bracket guessing now, as the 68 schools are set to play in the 2012 Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament. Now that March Madness is officially here, college sports handicapper Reno Gold will be making College Basketball Odds picks and predictions for the Big Dance all the way to the championship game. The good news for college sports bettors – RENO’S PICKS ARE FREE. Check daily for Reno Gold’s opinion on all the top games each week for free. We also encourage you to sign up to get Free NCAA Basketball Picks now!